Historic Links

Topographical Aids to the Reading of History

by D. L. Maguire

Excerpt

When a busy worker is asked to write a few words by way of Preface to some book in which he has professed an interest, he may usually hope to excuse himself by a general plea of incompetence or a special plea of over-work. In the present case either of these excuses might have been Offered with perfect sincerity, but neither would have commended itself to my former student, whose faith is great, or to my publishers of old whose requirements in the matter of space are not exacting. Moreover having privately expressed my firm conviction that there was room, even in the present crowded region of historical literature, for this modest little work, I could scarcely refuse to publish my Opinion when an Opportunity presented itself. With these excuses for an unwonted egotism I will address myself to my appointed task.

It would not be difficult to show that in the present day the demand for culture-books dealing with the social aspects of our national history is well maintained. Indeed, without disparagement of any living writer, it might be thought that the supply is unequal to the demand, in quantity and quality alike. The vast output, during recent years, of published Records and other original materials, if it has not yet affected the historical ideals of our younger students, is beginning to inﬂuence the methods of their teachers. The new generation of history graduates, men and women who follow the career of teachers in secondary schools and private families, have felt the meaning of historical research and demand a standard of historical literature far above the level Of the complacent studies pursued by their predecessors.